Examining the Shifting Paradigms of Bhakti and Sanskrit Literature through Devotional Poetry of Jayadeva and Dadu

The wave of the Bhakti movement significantly affected India for over a period of twelve centuries. Considering that it left inerasable impressions on the history and culture of the land, this research paper argues that what only imbibed the feeling of pure devotion also became a tool in the hands of those who were desirous of radical religious, political and social changes. To prove this, the paper undertakes the translation of Dadu Dayal’s Sanskrit compositions. Additionally, the paper also questions the very model of Bhaktikal (the Age of Devotional Literature), propagated by the scholars of Hindi Literature, which divides it into two distinct theological categories, Sagun and Nirgun. By examining the devotional poetry of Jayadeva Goswami and Dadu Dayal, and their sectarian positions, it demonstrates that the proponents of the two diametrically opposite schools of Bhakti did not always honour such a distinction for bhakti’s spirit is above such schisms.

Chastity is being true to one’s word - Presenting the story of Vallalamakarajan

Devotional literature is not merely a literary work, but also an act of uplifting moral life and the religious beliefs of the people. When we look at devotional literature and religious thoughts, these are the best. Thus, in advancing the position of chastity, the story of Vallalamakarajan in Arunachala Purana confirms the singularity of the word efficiency while advancing the position of chastity. Chastity is here irrespective of male or female. It also breaks down the barriers of lower classes and the upper classes. If a word is to have its meaning, it is appropriate to combine the time frame in which it is spoken and the social setting. The word chastity presents us in a particularly significant position. It very well may be seen that the term has been utilized in the feeling of peculiarities since the hour of Sangam to the later to the later moral literary works

Muḥammad ibn Sulaymān al-Jazūlī and the Place of Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt in Jazūlite Sufism

This article discusses the career of Muḥammad ibn Sulaymān al-Jazūlī (d. 869/1465), his compilation of Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt, and the place of this work in Jazūlite Sufism. The teachings of the Jazūliyya Sufi order emphasized intense spiritual devotion to the Prophet Muḥammad as a means of access to the Divine. As a manual of prayers and invocations on behalf of the Prophet, Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt became one of the most popular works of Islamic devotional literature. This widespread popularity was partly due to the Jazūliyya’s doctrinal connections with the Qādiriyya and Shādhiliyya Sufi orders. In Jazūliyya Sufi practice, the recitation of Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt and the prayers and litanies of the order were used to instill a “Muḥammadan” consciousness in the mind of the disciple. This higher consciousness was meant to serve as a compass of spiritual guidance for the “true seeker of God” (al-murīd al-ṣādiq), who aspired to the highest levels of Sufi knowledge.

Abraham von Franckenberg and the Ancient Wisdom of Rebirth

This chapter shows how the Silesian nobleman Abraham von Franckenberg linked Jacob Boehme’s spiritual alchemy to the idea of ancient wisdom, as exemplified by the gnostic church father Valentinus. Franckenberg himself experienced a crisis of faith in 1617 and discovered the heterodox devotional literature of his day upon his religious awakening. In the early 1620s, he read many of Boehme’s works in manuscript and met with their author in person repeatedly. Soon after Boehme’s death, Franckenberg composed an epistolary treatise that defended Valentinus against his detractors and presented him as a model Christian who had experienced rebirth. Much like Boehme, Franckenberg described this as spiritual alchemy. In later writings, he frequently alluded to concepts of his spiritual alchemy yet never again presented it as fully as in his early Theophrastia Valentiniana.

The work and life of Namakkal Kavignar Ramalingam through my story book

Various types of literature in Tamil have appeared and developed over time. Literature refines our lives. The literature that appeared in each period is able to reveal the living environment of the people of the respective period. Sangam Literature, Sangam Forgotten Literature, Devotional Literature, Folk Literature, Short Story, Novel, Renewal Poetry, Drama, Prose Literature. In this order his historical literature appears and develops. Her history is a collection of events that took place in a person's life. Traces of his historical literature can be found in the Sangam literature. When he and his friend Kopperuncholan, who was dying in the north, went to die in the north, many witnesses there asked why he had not lost his hair for so long. He has the best character wife in life, and people. He says that the Evelars who do not say what he thinks, and that the king is a good protector. And in our town live many learned, virtuous, well-meaning people with goals and principles. So I don't care. So he says I don't have gray hair. Through this, the news about Pichirantaiyar, his hometown, the witnesses in Avur, the people, the king and the evildoer are revealed. And he records through his songs that he lived a quiet contented life without any problems or interruptions. The above biographical notes are able to know the capital of his historical literature. Autobiography is written by a wide variety of writers, political leaders, scholars, and writers from all walks of life. One of the most significant of these biographies is considered to be that of the poet Ramalingam Pillai. The poet Ramalingam of this book is not only talking about the child's own life. Rather it speaks to the community as well. Because the poet Ramalingam Pillai has expressed in his works that he loved this community and what he experienced in his life. In particular, many of the events under the headings of Prayer, Thirukkural Pride, Gandhi, Nattukkummi, Feminism, Bharathidarshanam can be traced back to his works.

Responses to Montagu

Chapter 3 discusses the immediate responses to Montagu’s work undertaken by a number of Reformed Conformists. It exhibits the range of polemical approaches they used and establishes that Reformed Conformists were in the vanguard of the public opposition to Montagu. Featley’s Parallels illustrate how Reformed Conformists brought the teaching of the academy to bear within the public sphere. His Ancilla exhibits the use of devotional literature to advance their cause. Ward’s Gratia Discriminans sets out the Reformed Conformist case that their theology of grace did not undermine human free choice. Carleton’s Examination addressed Montagu’s suggestion that a Reformed view of grace was a manifestation of Puritanism and asserted its consonance with the Thirty-nine Articles. Hall’s unpublished Via Media, by contrast, advocated an irenic and moderate reading of English orthodoxy, but one in which there was still no room for any teaching that made salvation ultimately dependent on the human will.

Motives and Trends of Tamil Medieval Literature

There is innumerable literature that have appeared in our Tamil language which is the most ancient language in the world. Tamil literature has reached various stages of development from the Tholkappiyar period to the twentieth century. During the Sangam period, Sangam literature, Sangam literature during the Maruviya period, epics during the Chola period and Medieval literature during the Nayakas period were well understood. Each period in which Tamil literature appeared reflected the social, political, cultural and economic backgrounds of the time. Literature also needs to change according to social background as time goes on. It is the literature that appears to bring about such change that is enduring. Conceived in the Tholkappiya Noorpa, the Sangam literature have undergone various stages of development in the devotional literature, and the epics that have evolved into separate literary genres which have multiplied beyond the tradition of ninety-six epics during the Nayakas period. Some of the best-known literature of a given period stops its developmental stage with that period. However, Medieval literatures have been revived in the twentieth century with various changes in the subject matter and structure of society.

“A Monster of iniquity in my self”: Queer Sacramental Temporality in Thomas Shepard and Michael Wigglesworth

This article contends, through a reading of Thomas Shepard and Michael Wigglesworth, that puritan devotional practice contains a queer temporality that emphasizes the recurrent experience and recording of personal sinfulness. This queer temporality, articulated in puritan devotional literature in sacramental terms, poses an important challenge to the secularization account Charles Taylor offers in which puritan religious emphasis on righteous conduct leads to ultimately secular projects of social and individual reform.

Devotional Theory in Comics

Vedic and non-Vedic religions spread their ideas directly, through songs and sermons. A sense of devotion was sown by making a connection between God and Human. In particular, devotional literature is designed to convey the flexibility of the structural definitions of religions. This can be seen by examining the background of all the devotional literatures and religious epics. The reading method, which was in the state of “Telling – Listening” have been changed into the state of “Seeing – Reading”. Thus, there was a significant place for paintings and pictures in journalism. Paintings and pictures were considered as tools to impress the readers. So, the magazines had the custom of drawing up a chart for the stories. Religious institutions changed the forms of expression as time went on. All the myths and Epics of poems were made into prose stories after the advent of journalism. Stories created as a series of illustrations (Sequential Art) throughout were put forward to explain the doctrine of Devotion. “Amarchitra Katha” is a globally recognized magazine that symbolizes the Indian comic book tradition. Similarly, the magazine ‘Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam’ made a significant contribution in Tamil. All the stories published in this way have been published as pamphlets under the name of “Kathaimalar”. Thus, this Article explores the notion that 'such magazines, which are based on devotion, treat religious virtues especially from evidences of the Epics”. Further, this article goes on to point out the way in which these stories have carried the doctrine of Devotion of religious institutions to the contemporary generation.

Faith in God and Language Policy in Tamil Pattiyal Grammar

Tamil devotional literature is composed as pathigangal and prabandangal. Most of the prabanda literature depends on Sittrilakiya Varieties. Pattiyal Grammar discusses about combining baithi and language god is portrayed as hero in such literatures. Devotional literature emphasize to get rid of worldly illusions and the ways to attain god. Paattiyal Grammar says certain conventions should be followed while writing hymns on God. This paper researches on the Paatiyal Grammar which has recorded that bakthi religious principles is formed on the basics of faith in God.